To continue sharing the precious memories of Prince music that Flying Cloud Passenger started, here's my take on the funk that is the Housequake.

I remember being about 17 when the Sign 'O' the Times album was released, excited about listening to it for the first time coming home from the store. SOTT actually took a couple of months to grow on me as a song, as I was more intrigued by the lyrics than the music at first.

So I listen to SOTT on the record, then hear Play in the Sunshine--my first impression was a decent rock song, but again, not a big immediate liking to it. Then, I heard the third track,

AND MY FUNK WORLD WAS ROCKED AND NEVER BEEN THE SAME.

The catchy horns, the hypnotic drum beat and the weird squeaky high voice had me jumpin on my bed, dancing like a crazed lunatic. My father started bangin on the door, asking me 'what the hell is your problem?' I was thinking how dare him interrupt my primal teenage need to be one with the funk.
Dance it, live it, gettin funked out. I didn't know a song could have that much deep, booty-shakin funk and be legal.

My friends and I would go to amusement parks, pick up helium balloons while we were in line for rides, suck up the helium and say (you know) "Shut up, Already..." I can't even tell you how many times I tried to dance like Jerome after seeing the SOTT video during the Housequake part.

Housequake the song helped me appreciate two things. 1) That Prince had not reached his peak at Purple Rain, which I thought at the time. 2) You can never have Prince figured out as a musician as far as what he'll do next, as he's proven in the years before and since then.

Thanks for letting me ramble on about my memories of the 'Quake. Next...

Housequake2K2 said:

That's the truth. Ruth.

Cool!

In Los Angeles, a black radio station played Sign "O" The Times as a preview, I mean the WHOLE album every few other songs.

Housequake floored me as well, it was jumping! To freaky! He pretty much kicked everyones ass at the time, Cameo and such.

Around that time remember, the first Madhouse album was out so it very exciting period of our Funkified lives!

Oh and thanks for continuing the Song Celebration idea Housequake2K2!

housequake blew my ass away too !

nostalgia...

Shock-a-lock-a-Boom!

What was that?

Aftershock!



I nearly died when I heard that...it was 2 much.


From "U Got The Look" 2 "Sign 'O' The Times"...that album remains in my top ten faves, always.

Eye'm up for his ballads.. but his funk is nice also...


Eye'll take Rebirth Of The Flesh anyday of the week... Thats sooo NIN sounding... the reverb on the vocal chorus in the background of the song..

What's really funky is the version of Housequake from the SOTT movie. Actually that whole concert was bangin'. I burned myself a cd from the SOTT video and I can't get
enough of it, especially HQ, If I was your girlfriend(really soulful rendition), and Beautiful Night(the original chicken grease).

Sdldawn said:

Wha'?! NIN? Woo boy, I think it should be the other way around. But without the props. NIN is no funk.

At the end of DJ Brother Jules Remix Experience there's a short Housequake section that I skip to and listen to over and over again. Starts off with the thumping beat, then the bass comes in, then guitar...and much louder than what is mixed in Housequake. Too funky!

Ecnirpnz

A few lines:

I loved it too when I first heard it! Still love that song..."If ya can't rock steady shut up already!"

I'ma rock this motha' to the max and that's a fact

Heeheeheeheeheehee...

DAMN i love this song...

DAMN, DAMN, DAMN, and DAMN!!!

June7 said:

I got chills when i just read that!

Call me strange, but you know what was kind of neat?

When I finally got the Sign "O" The Times album and read the lyrics, but the type it was set in/printed was in like a classy typeface, serifs, very nice...that elevated the experience in some strange way. It wasn't cheesy. Here was an incredible Funk song that was all over the place and I and am reading lyrics that looked dramatic. Interesting little observation.

Shows you how design makes a difference! Parke are you listening?

I LOVE this song. Especially the live version from the SOTT film.

Out of all of Prince's songs, this is the one that I remember most clearly where I was and what I thought when I first heard it. I was like HOLY SHIT, what was that!!

randomduck said:

The break in the film performance when it's just Sheila E. on the drums and Prince is dancing that super freaky super funky dance...THAT is the funkiest thing EVER captured on film!!!

I remember that and just being blown away at the moment and how he looked like he was made of elastic!

What creativity to come up with those dance moves!

OH
YEAH!
Housequake, LOVE IT!
The album version!
the 12" vers (with all of the smooth cool solos!!)
and YES on the SOTT movie vers too!!
ALL ROCK!
I also have a cd cut from the video &
man, that Housequake is SOLID! The great horn lines.
Sheila's kick ass drumming. Fink's moves
I love the turn around followed by:
"Shake your body 'till your neighbor stares AT YA!"
It is also halarious that he overdubed a nice
clear loud snap sound in a shot where he snaps his fingers.
Yeah, Prince, your vocal mike just happened to pick up that snap really well ...LOL!

Oh yeah, Sheila E's drum solo.
I've heard a couple of versions performed on the Nude tour, they are funky too, but not as good as the SOTT concert.